Coal cutter



1,614 182 Jan. 11, 1927. J c BRACKETT COAL CUTTER Filed March 51, 926 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 u l I 1 IN! (N I INVENTOR 1151312 I ,Brami'el HIS m g EY Jan. 11, 1927.

J.C.BRACKETT COAL CUTTER Filed March 51, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 m5 ATTORN INVENTOR fli 613 101 eff Jan. 11, 1927. 4,182

J. c; BRAUKETT COAL CUTTER Filed March 51, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 'II E mums INVENTOR HI 6 ATTCiREY Patented Jan. 11, 1927.

unirso STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

JOHN C. BRACKETT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIG'NOR TO INGERSQLL-RAND COMPANY,

or JERSEY CITY,

NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

COAL CUTTER.

AppIicatio'n filed March 31, 1926. Serial No. 98,739.

This invention relates to chain coal cutters, and more particularly to the type of coal cutter in which a cutter bar is arranged to swing about one end and also turn about a horizontal axis so as to swing in any desired plane.

One object of the invention is to balance the cutter bar and its associated gear drive by the motor which is provided for actuating the bar.

Another object is to enable the cutter bar to be rotated conveniently about a horizontal axis and to offset the cutter bar from this axis so as to enable the bar to cut at the ceiling and floor levels.

Other objects of the invention will be in part obvious and in. part pointed out in the following description taken in conjunction with the drawing in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts.

Figure l is a side elevation of an entire coal cutter constructed in accordance with the practice of the invention,

Figure 2 is a top View of the coal cutter,

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional View of the coal cutter along the lines 3-3 look ing in the direction of the arrows,

Figure t is a section along the lines 4-4' of Figure 3 showing the drive connection for swinging the cutter bar,

Figure 5 is a section along the line 5-5 showing the means for propelling the coal cutter and the driving connections for elevating the head and rotating the bar about a horizontal axis,

Figure 6 is a sectional view along the lines 66 showing the means for elevating the turret, and

Figure 7 is a sectional view along the lines 7-7 looking in the direction of the arrows showing part of the mechanism for rotating the bar about a horizontal axis to adjust the cutting plane of the cutter bar.

Referring to the drawing the coal cutter includes a carriage A preferably provided with wheels B and C by which the machine may be moved about as on the tracksD, and a pair of columns E to support the head F upon which a cutter bar G is mounted.

The head F includes a gear case H supporting the cutter bar G and a hollow cylindrical shaft J at the opposite end of which there is secured a suitable motor K. The

motor K, being disposed opposite to the cutter bar with respect to the hollow shaft J. assists in counterbalancing the gear case H and the cutter bar G. The drive shaft L of the motor K extends through the hollow shaft J and is provided at its end with a pinion 0 engaging a bevel gear P on a hub Q, secured to a shaft R extending through the gear case H. Suitable sprocket-s (not shown) on the shaft R are adapted to drive the chain S which may be of any suitable con s'truction having the cutting teeth T.

, The cutter bar G is provided with a base 'U rotatable on the gear case H about the shaft B, suitable antifriction bearings V being provided 'therebetween. The cylinder portions TV extend from opposite sides of the gear case H concentric with the shaft It and provide a bearing for the base U about which to pivot suitable rings X of bearing metal provided between the base .U and the portions N. Suitable bearings Y also are provided within the cylindrical port-ions XV for the shaft R which is inclosed on the cutter bar side of the gear case -H bya plate Z actuating as a thrust bearing and on the opposite side of the gear case by a housing including the base portion 6 and a cap 0 which are adapted'to inclose a worm gear cZ forming part of the means for swinging the cutter bar G with respect to the head F. This means also includes a spur gear 6 mounted in the base U' and engaging teeth 7 on the exterior of the gear case H (Figure 2) which is for this purpose made cylindrical and concentric with the shaft In order to swing the cutter bar G the spur gear 6 is rotated in the desired direction preferably 'bypower derived from the motor K and to this end the shaft g upon which the gear 6 is mounted is provided with a worm wheel to loosely mounted on the shaft 5/ and meshingwith a worm j on a shaft 76 which may be connected by means of suitable clutch members 0 with a shaft 7? upon which there is mounted a worm wheel g meshing with the worm (Z.

It is often desired to swing the cutter bar Gr by hand and to permit such action the worm wheel h is loosely mounted on the shaft 9 and adapted to be engaged and disengaged therewith by means of a clutch 9 arranged to be actuated by a lever r. Suit able bearings are provided in the base 2) and the cap for the shaft 19. An annular ring 1 on the base U and a cap 8 form a housing for the worm wheel h and the shaft 72.

The head F is mounted on the columns E by means of a bearing member which includes a central cylinder portion t surrounding the hollow shaft J and two vertical J cylindrical slide portions formed integrally with the portion 25 and adapted to receive the columns E. The head is raised and lowered by suitable means such as the screws c which engage threaded apertures in the cylindrical portion 6 (Figure 6).

Means are provided to rotate the hollow shaft J for adjusting the inclination of the cutting plane of the cutter bar G and to this end a worm wheel 00 is formed integrally with a flange 3 by which the housing of the motor K is attached to the hollow shaft J (Figure 3), and is adapted to cooperate with a worm a mounted on a bracket 2 preferably formed integrally with one of the cylindrical portions u of the bearing. The worm a is adapted to be rotated by means of a shaft 3 splined so that as the head is raised or lowered the worm 2 may slide freely in a longitudinal direction on the shaft 3. The screws '0 and the shaft 3 may be operated either manually or by power means, such as a motor 4: mounted on the carriage A (Figure 3). The driving connections between the motor 4 and the screws 1) and the shaft 3 are shown more clearly in Figures 3 and 5. The worm 5 on the drive shaft of the motor 4: is adapted to rotate a worm wheel 6 keyed to a shaft 7. By means of a clutch 8 the shaft 7 is adapted to be connected with a shaft 9 provided with a bevel gear 10, meshing with a gear 12 on a shaft 11 carrying a gear 12, meshing with a gear 13, in turn engaging a gear 1 1 on the elevating screw o. The elevating screws 4; are connected to operate at the same speed by a gear 15 meshing with the gear 1d and a smaller gear 16 on the other elevating screw o.

The shaft 3 for rotating the hollow shaft J is actuated by means of a gear 17 keyed to the shaft 3 and meshing with a gear 18 on a vertical shaft 19 carrying a bevel gear 20. A horizontal shaft 21 carries at one end a bevel gear 22 meshing with the bevel gear and at the other carries a sprocket 24 connected by a chain 25 to a sprocket 26 loose on the shaft 7. The sprocket 26 is adapted to be driven by the shaft 7 by means of the clutch 8 which accordingly has three positions, neutral, one in which the sprocket 26 connects with shaft 7 and the other in which shaft 7 is connected with shaft 9.

The coal cutter is adapted to be propelled under its own power for two purposes; one

being to transport the machine about the mine and, in addition, to drive it forward to crowd the cutter bar G into the vein of coal.

For the first purpose, relatively little power is, required and preferably greater speed. For the second purpose, the machine is propelled very slowly but with a great force. In this embodiment the motor L is employed to supply the power for propelling the machine at both speeds. The gearing for the higher speed includes a worm 27 on the drive shaft of the motor a meshing with a worm wheel 28 freel rotatable von a shaft 29. Suitable sprockets 30 and 31 provided with a chain 32 connect the shaft 29 with the axle 33 of the wheels B. A clutch 3 L manually operable by means of a suit able lever handle 35 is adapted to connect the worm wheel 2st with the shaft 29 to drive the wheel B. V

For slower speeds as for crowding purposes, the shaft 29 is adapted to be connected by means of the clutch 3 1 with a worm wheel 36 meshing with the worm 37 on the shaft 7. lVith this latter gearing, worm 5, worm wheel 6 and the worm 37 of the worm wheel 36 provide sufficient reduction in speed and increase in power for driving the cutter bar G with great fo ce into the Vein of coal.

Usually the tracks D upon which the wheels B and C rest are placed on a floor which may be somewhatuneven due to the direction of the vein of coal being followed. It may therefore become desirable to be able to change the inclination of the cutter bar G with respect to the tracks D, and means to this end are provided including adjusting bars 39 supporting the axles 33 and pivotal ly supported at one end on pivots 4O mounted on the carriage A. at the other end. Pivotally mounted adjusting screws 41 engage the nuts 42 mounted in brackets 43 on the sides of the carriage A. in order to turn the nuts 42 their peripheries are provided with gear teeth to engage the worms T4: on a shaft 45 extending through the carriage A. and provided with a hand wheel 46. turning the hand wheel d6 the nuts in turning cause the adjusting bars 39 to raise or lower the axle 33 and therefore to tilt the carriage A to the desired inclination with respect to the track D. The head F moving with the carriage A may thus be adjust ed to give the proper inclination to the cutter bar G.

The platform 47 is provided at the rear of the carriage A for the operator to stand on and from this position entire control of the machine may be had. A suitable controller 50 is provided for the motor 4. and a second controller 51 controls the motor K. The motors K and 4 may be of any suitable type as for instance electric or pneumatic depend ing upon the pow-er available at the location.

For controlling the clutches 8 and 23 suitable lever connections are provided which ma y be controlled by the levers 52 and 53 respectively.

In operation the machine is propelled near the work to be operated upon by the motor driving through the higher speed gears 27 and 28, the clutch 34: being in engagement with the worm wheel 38. When the machine has approached relatively close to the face of the scene, the clutch 3 is thrown'b'y means of the lever 35 into engagement with the worm wheel 38 to provide a low speed gearing. if it is desired to make a horizontal lrerf at the ceiling, the cutter bar Gr is rotated in a horizontal position as shown in Figure 3 by throwing the clutch 8 into engagement with the sprocket 26 and operating the motor 4 whereupon the shaft 3 operates the worm wheel as to rotate the horizontal shaft J in the head F. The proper inclination of the cutter bar G is obtained by turning the hand wheel 46 to raise or lower the equalizer bars 39 with respect to the carriage A. The head F is then raised to the proper height on the col umn E by engaging the clutch 8 with the corresponding jaw on the shaft 9 to operate the screws Z). The cutter bar G may be swung sidewise, preparatory to starting the cutting by disengaging the clutch g by means of the clutch lever r and pulling the cutter bar by hand to one side. The clutch q is then engaged with the worm wheel h. The coal cutter is then adjusted for cutting into the coal seam.

The cutting is started by starting the motor K, there being a suitable rheostat provided, controlled by the lever 54:. The chain S then is rotated on the cutter bar G and simultaneously the clutch 0 is engaged. The shaft R driving the worm (Z rotates the worm wheel 9' and the shafts 7c and p to rotate the worm wheel it through the worm The worm wheel it being connected to the shaft through the clutch rotates the spur gear 0 slowly. By its engagement with the gear teeth 7 on the gear case H the spur gear 6 causes rotation of the cutter bar G simultaneous with the operation of the chain S. The chain S cuts a kerf in the coal which may be cut to the desired depth by advancing or retarding the carriage A by means of the motor 4.

T he coal cutter may be used to cut out strata of slate or dirt between coal seams or for under cutting at the floor level. The arrangement above described is particularly adapted for the latter sort of cutting since it allows the cutter bar G to extend beyond the supporting head F and when reversed, as shown in Figure l, and lowered to the floor level, a kerf may be cut substantially on the level with the bottom of the seam or when in position, as shown in Figure 3, may

be used to cut a herf at the ceiling. Vertical cuts may also be made by rotating'the shaft J so that the plane of the cutter bar G is vertical.

I claim:

1. A coal cutter comprising a cutter bar, a head supporting said cutter bar having a hollow supporting shaft, a column, a bearing for the shaft on said column, means for raising the bearing on said column, a motor having a drive shaft extending through said hollow shaft for rotating said cutter bar and disposed opposite to said cutter bar with respect to the hollow shaft, means for rotating said hollow shaft to adjust the cutting plane of the cutter bar and means to swing said cutter bar about said head including a gear in engagement with the exterior of the hollow shaft and driving connections for said gear associated with said motor.

2. A coal cutter comprising a cutter bar, a base for said bar, a head having a gear case pivotally supporting said base and a hollow shaft attached to said gear case, a column, a

bearing for said hollow shaft raisable on said column, a motor secured to said hollow shaft provided with a drive shaft extending therethrough for actuating said cutter bar, and means to swing said cutter bar with respect to said head including a gear mounted on said base and in engagement with the exterior of the gear case and driving connections for said gear associated with said motor.

3. A coal cutter comprising a cutter bar, a base rigidly secured to the cutter bar, a head having a gear case pivotally supporting said base and a hollow shaft secured to said gear case, a column, a bearing for said hollow shaft raisalole on the column, a shaft extending through said gear case for actuating the cutter bar, a bevel gear on said shaft within the gear case, a motor secured to said hollow shaft and provided with a drive shaft extending through said hollow shaft having a pinion engaging the bevel gear, means to swing said cutter bar on said head including a gear mounted on said base in engagement with the exterior of the gear case and driving connections associating said gear with said cutter bar actuating shaft.

4. A coal cutter comprising a cutter bar, a base rigidly secured to the cutter bar, a head having a gear case pivotally supporting said base, and a hollow shaft secured to said gear case, a column, a bearing for said hollow shaft raisable on said column, a shaft extending through said gear case for actuating said cutter bar, a bevel gear on said shaft within the gear case, a motor secured to said hollow shaft and provided with a drive shaft extending through the'hollow shaft having apinion engaging the bevel gear, means to swing said cutter bar on the head including a gear mounted on said base lit) in engagement with the exterior of the gear case, driving connections associating said gear with said cutter bar actuating shaft, and means to rotate said hollow shaft to adjust the cutting plane of the cutter bar.

5. A coal cutter comprising a cutter bar, a base rigidly secured to the cutter bar, a head having a gear case pivotally supporting said base and a hollow shaft secured to said gear case, a column, a bearing for said hollow shaft raisable on said column, a shaft extending through said gear case for operating said cutter bar, a bevel gear on said shaft within the gear case, a motor secured to said hollow shaft and provided with a drive shaft extending through said hollow shaft having a pinion engaging the bevel gear, means to swing saidcutter bar on said gear case including a gear mounted on said base in engagement with the exterior of the gear case, driving connections associating said gear with the cutter bar actuating shaft, and means to rotate said gear case compris ing a worm wheel on said hollow shaft and a motor driven Worm in engagement there with.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

JOHN C. BRAGKE TT. 

